Chapter 1403 : Auction of Celestial Treasures

Once this supreme treasure was successfully refined, even when facing a great power of the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a realm just below the true Celestial Immortal stage], he would at least possess the strength to engage in battle, securing a significant chance for survival.

Following the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram, several more rare treasures of the World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure capable of assisting in opening a new world or dimension] level were auctioned off in succession.

These treasures all sold for exorbitant premiums, falling into the hands of several Half-Step Celestial Immortal Great Powers [cultivators who have reached the peak below the Celestial Immortal realm].

Perhaps because the Flowing Fire Star Palace's foundation had suffered considerable losses during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event testing the fate of cultivators and realms], the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace did not manage to purchase any of these rare treasures.

He merely bought one Eighth Rank High-Grade Healing Immortal Pill [a powerful elixir capable of mending severe injuries and restoring vitality], seemingly to temporarily suppress his wounds, and then refrained from further bidding on these treasures.

However, Eldrin Chen noticed that the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace's gaze had fallen upon the Seven Mystery Path Master on several occasions.

"It seems this Seven Mystery Path Master is about to face a calamity," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a silent message with Exquisite Jiang and the others, a shadow of solemnity darkening his eyes.

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod and spoke, "We possess the Polarity Void Mirror, and we have the backing of the Glazed Divine Lord and the Western Abyss Immortal Court. He would not dare to act against us openly."

"But this Seven Mystery Path Master lacks such deep connections. I fear he has already been marked as prey."

Seeing this, Nyssa Qu spoke up, "If the Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Diagram were to fall into the hands of the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace, he would regain a measure of his former power."

"We have already made an enemy of him. It is likely he will next set his sights on plotting against us."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement and said, "After the Barter Convention concludes, we shall act according to the circumstances."

As their discussion continued, the auction proceeded steadily. During this process, several portions of World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy used to forge and expand inner worlds] were brought forth for bidding.

The value of a single portion of World-Opening Energy was approximately eight hundred Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a high-grade currency used by powerful immortals] or around ninety thousand Immortal Source [a concentrated source of immortal energy].

For this event, Eldrin Chen had brought over five thousand pieces of Incense Offering Celestial Silver and more than one million six hundred thousand Immortal Source, equivalent to roughly two million three hundred thousand Immortal Source in total. His financial resources were formidable.

Even so, Eldrin Chen spent his wealth with careful calculation.

Because a Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] had recently passed, over three thousand new Earth Immortal [immortals who have forged their own inner world] had emerged within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea. Of these, more than one thousand belonged to the Human Race. Consequently, there was a great abundance of World-Opening Energy available at this Barter Convention.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen cast a wide net, placing bids on almost every portion of World-Opening Energy that appeared.

His maximum bid for each was set at eight hundred Incense Offering Celestial Silver or ninety thousand Immortal Source. If the price exceeded this limit, he would withdraw from the bidding.

In this manner, as the auction proceeded, although most of the World-Opening Energy [a primordial energy used to refine and empower nascent worlds] were purchased by others, Eldrin Chen still managed to pick up quite a few overlooked treasures.

By the time he had exhausted his supply of Immortal Essence [a high-grade spiritual currency used by powerful cultivators] and Incense Offering Celestial Silver [a special silver used in rituals and high-level transactions], Eldrin Chen found he had acquired a total of twenty-seven strands of World-Opening Energy, with an average price of merely eighty-five thousand Immortal Source [a fundamental source of immortal power] per strand.

Having obtained these twenty-seven strands of World-Opening Energy, the primary objective of Eldrin Chen's journey was largely fulfilled.

With no funds left for the remainder of the auction, he simply observed quietly, treating it as an opportunity to broaden his experience.

Thus, time flowed swiftly by. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed, and the grand auction finally drew to a close.

As the auction concluded, Immortal Maiden Jade Stream retrieved three precious objects from her sleeve and announced, "The auction is now concluded. What follows shall be the Barter Convention [a gathering where cultivators trade rare items directly, bypassing standard currency]."

"This humble one has prepared three treasures to serve as a modest offering, hoping to elicit greater gems from the assembly."

With these words, Immortal Maiden Jade Stream produced three rare curiosities from her sleeve.

They were: an ancient stone entwined with Primordial Chaos Energy [the raw, unformed energy from the dawn of creation], a dazzling nine-colored Immortal Pill [an elixir of supreme grade capable of granting immense power or longevity], and a scroll of Ancient Scripture [a tome containing lost knowledge or profound cultivation methods].

"These are..."

At the very moment these objects came into view, every immortal present was struck with profound astonishment.

A half-step Celestial Immortal Great Power from the Human Race spoke, his voice trembling with disbelief: "A Chaos Ancient Stone [a primordial stone born from the chaos at the dawn of creation], a Primordial Unity Immortal Pill [a legendary pill said to aid in achieving the foundational unity of the Dao], and the Primordial Unity Immortal Scripture [the supreme scripture detailing the path to Primordial Unity]!"

"Indeed."

Immortal Maiden Jade Stream nodded, yet shook her head slightly. "They are indeed the Primordial Unity Immortal Pill and the Primordial Unity Immortal Scripture. However, this Chaos Ancient Stone is a flawed piece, obtained by our sect's Supreme Elder while he was guarding the Chaos Abyssal Chasm [a terrifying rift where the fabric of reality frays into primordial chaos]."

Hearing this, the assembled immortals exchanged glances, a collective sigh of relief washing over them.

As Immortal Maiden Jade Stream explained, Eldrin Chen grasped the origins of these supreme treasures.

Among the three peerless treasures, the Primordial Unity Immortal Pill was a Ninth Rank supreme breakthrough Precious Pill [a pill of the highest grade and rarity]. It was said this pill could increase the chances of a cultivator at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm achieving the Primordial Unity Path Fruit [the foundational fruit of one's cultivation path, representing unity with a core Dao principle] by twenty percent.

Furthermore, for those who had already achieved one Primordial Unity Path Fruit, it could increase the probability of cultivating a second one by ten percent.

The refinement of this pill was exceedingly difficult. It not only required alchemical skill at the Ninth Rank level, but its primary ingredient was the famed Ninth Rank Immortal Herb known as the 'Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit' [the fruit of a legendary herb embodying the concept of primordial unity].

That Ninth Rank Immortal Herb was exceedingly rare. Within the entire Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea, aside from the two Grotto-Heaven [self-contained paradisiacal realms], only the Spirit Race's Myriad Spirit Patriarch, relying on the Myriad Spirit Ancestral Liquid [a miraculous liquid capable of nurturing spiritual life], could cultivate such an Immortal Herb.

Legend speaks of a pill that surpasses even the Primordial Unity Immortal Pill [a legendary pill that can help an Earth Immortal achieve a breakthrough], known as the 'Innate Primordial Unity Pill' [a mythical pill forged from the purest innate energies of creation].

It is said the Innate Primordial Unity Pill is refined from Innate Energy [the primordial, untainted energy present at the dawn of creation], the Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit [a legendary fruit containing the essence of primordial unity], and several thousand varieties of Immortal Herb [plants imbued with potent spiritual properties].

The value of this pill is tenfold that of the Primordial Unity Immortal Pill. It is said that an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] who consumes it is guaranteed to forge a single Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation base representing primordial oneness].

Furthermore, even an existence who already possesses a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a foundation built upon two pillars of primordial unity] would, by consuming one Innate Primordial Unity Pill, increase their chances of condensing a third Primordial Unity Foundation by twenty percent.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a profound yearning stir within his heart. If he could obtain the recipe for the Primordial Unity Immortal Pill, acquire the Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit, and successfully refine it into a Precious Pill [a pill of exceptional rarity and power]...

...then in the future, his closest kin would have their chances of breaking through to the Celestial Immortal [the realm of a true celestial immortal] significantly bolstered.

Aside from the Primordial Unity Immortal Fruit, the other two treasures were also exceedingly Extraordinary [remarkable, outstanding].

That scroll, the Primordial Unity Immortal Scripture [an immortal scripture detailing the path of primordial unity], was named 'Primordial Unity Profound Heavenly Path' [The Profound Heavenly Path of Primordial Unity]. It was said to have been obtained in his youth by the Supreme Elder [the highest-ranking elder] of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a powerful immortal sect or hidden realm].

Although this cultivation art could only lead one to the Early Celestial Immortal Realm [the initial stage of the Celestial Immortal realm], its value was still extraordinary. However, the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven put it up for sale every few million years.

While the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven forbade buyers from teaching the scripture to others, over tens of millions of years, this scripture had become, for all intents and purposes, common knowledge.

Within the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea realm], most of the Human Race [the collective of human cultivators] Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the peak of the Earth Immortal realm, standing on the threshold of true Celestial Immortality] have collected this scripture.

They may not necessarily cultivate it themselves, but they often use it for reference to create their own cultivation arts.

The final item, the Chaos Ancient Stone [an ancient stone born from the primordial chaos], is a piece of raw material originating from the Depths of Chaos [the formless, primordial expanse that existed before creation].

It must be understood that within Chaos [the primordial, undifferentiated state before the cosmos was formed], there is no concept of up or down, nor distinction between front, back, left, or right. The four wilds and the Eight Desolations [the eight furthest, most barren reaches of existence] are all part of a singular, uniform Chaos. There is no sky above nor earth below, only the Chaos Torrent [the ceaseless, eroding flow of primordial chaos] scouring all things.

Under such conditions, any treasure capable of manifesting tangible substance within Chaos is exceedingly rare.

This particular stone material is a condensation of the essence of earth-source energy from within Chaos, coalesced over hundreds of millions of years. Tempered by the constant scouring of the Chaos Torrent, it has transformed into a piece of nigh-indestructible stone.

In theory, it should have been a Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [a legendary treasure born from the undivided primordial unity, containing profound natural laws].

Yet, for reasons unknown, all the Primordial Unity Path Patterns [the innate, cosmic patterns and laws of the Primordial Unity state] within it have been completely worn away, leaving behind only an unbreakable stone.

"Such an incredibly resilient stone, if fused into a defensive supreme treasure, could render that treasure even more impervious," he mused.